Everett Sausage Festival volunteers hope to raise $100,000 this year

Joey Rollins operates a Ferris wheel Friday at the Sausage Fest in Everett.

Joe Dyer / The Herald

Jill McCoy (center) gives Antonio Pinion, 11, (right) an inflatable hammer in exchange for his prize tickets at the 36th Annual Sausage Fest at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Everett Friday. Proceeds from the festival benefit the school.

Joe Dyer / The Herald

Cameron, Marilyn, and John McCracken play Bingo at the 36th Annual Sausage Fest at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Everett on Friday. Proceeds from the festival, which continues today and Sunday, benefit the school.

Joe Dyer / The Herald

Lorraine Bernhard, 75, of Seattle shops at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School flea market at the 36th annual Sausage Fest in Everett on Friday. Proceeds from the festival benefit the school.

EVERETT -- Sausage Fest has changed very little over the past 35 years.The menu remains the same.And many of the same volunteers still keep the festival running year after year. Many started pitching in when their children attended the Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.Years later, they are still helping even when their children -- and in some cases, grandchildren -- have graduated."A lot of volunteers don't have children at the school anymore. That's how committed we are to the event," volunteer Marcia Lozeau said. "It became a community event."The 36th Annual Everett Sausage Festival opened Friday. It is to continue Saturday and Sunday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church grounds, 2617 Cedar St.Sausage Fest is held Saturday from noon to midnight, and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Entrance is free.The event is the main fundraiser for the Catholic school. This year, the goal is to reach $100,000, volunteer Frauna Hoglund said.The fundraiser helps keep tuition costs low."It keeps the school viable," Lozeau said. "Without the fundraiser it would be too difficult for parents to send their children to this school."To achieve this goal, they have 2,200 pounds of sausage and 2,400 pounds of sauerkraut, Hoglund said.The recipe for the sausages and the sauerkraut hasn't changed because people want it to stay the same, volunteers said."People can bank on that they will have what they had before," said Kathy Fry, business manager for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. The event also features a carnival and craft booths, a beer garden and live music. Tim Noah is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. To help with parking, people can take a shuttle bus from the Everett Transit Center, at 3201 Smith Ave. For more information go to www.everettsausagefest.com.Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.

Calendar

Share your comments: Log in using your HeraldNet account or your Facebook, Twitter or Disqus profile. Comments that violate the rules are subject to removal. Please see our terms of use. Please note that you must verify your email address for your comments to appear.